Process for preparing lactones of the saturated and unsaturated, cyclopentanopolyhydrophenanthrene series



Patented Nov. 7, 1944 PROCESS FOR PREPARING LACTONES OF THE SATURATED AND UNSATURATED, CYCLOPENTANOPOLYHYDROPHENAN THRENE SERIES Leopold Ruzicka, Zurich, Switzerland, as-

signor to Ciba Pharmaceutical Products, Incorporated, Summit, N. J a corporation of New Jersey No Drawing. Application April 29, 1942, Se-

rial No. 441,033. 1941 11 Claims.

The present invention relates to the manufac-- ture of lactones of the saturated and unsaturated cyclopentanopolyhydrophenanthrene series by condensing a compound of the said series having In Switzerland May 31 more 2l-diaz-o-21-carbethoxy-pregnane-20-ones, diazoprogesterone as well as corresponding stereoisomers and homologues.

The condensation may be effected in known Thus if desired the the general formula 5 manner by means of metals, such as zinc or magnesium, in a suitable inert solvent, for instance MMR=X benzene, toluene, dioxane or ether. wherein one of the two Rs stands for a radical If, for example, free keto-aldehydes are used as containing the cyclopentanopolyhydrophenanstarting materials, there are formed mixtures of threne ring structure, the other R is a member of i ome in e h r n wi h h hal n e the groupconsisting of hydrogen or a hydrocarfatty acid derivatives occurs at the keto group bon radical, such as alkyl, or a carbalkoxy group, 011 51160119 hand, and at the aldehyde p, 011 and X Sta ds for an 0X0 group, a thio group or a, the other. It is therefore advantageous to start bivalent radical or two monovalent radicals, these f he indicated aldehyde d r a radicals being a functionally moderated 0x0 or When using an acetal thio group, with a functional derivative of a. hal- C H ogen fatty acid, such as an aor 'p-halogenated Standing example o (1:11: 1 fatty acid ester, amide or nitrile, subjecting. the condensation product if necessary to the action of as staring mammal for the w Process the reducing agents and, if desired, to the action of. @nsatlon Products are apprpn?'te1y S first hydrolyzing and lactonizing agents or to a rewlth hydrolyzmg agents, espema'n? 9 agents esterifying treatment and/or a treatment for whereupon the hyde group which 15 splitting off water. is reduced to a hydroxyl group. The reducmg The parent materials are therefore keto-aldetreatment P consist for example of a catalytic hydes and diketones ofthe eyclopentanopolyhyhydmsenatmn but w may P used also other drophenanthrene series or of their functional methods Yvmch are rumble for convert derivatives and corresponding thio-compounds. mg an carbmo} subse' for exampleacetals or meraptals quentlya treatment with lactomzing agents, e. g.

0 CH :21: 1 ri t li 1 'th difii Y i en ac mzaion espaceonywi x o. mon, or +011 80 culty a treatmentwith re-esterifying or hydrolyzing and then lactonizing agents may be advantageous. As a partial elimination of water derivatives of carboxylic acids occurs frequently during the lactonisation, one 6 obtains in many instances mixtures which may [X=e.g. be separated into their constituents or further f' worked up as mixtures. or of amines and other nitrogen compounds. products obtained may be subjected to the known treatments for eliminating water,'of which dis- 4 tillation or sublimation under diminished pres- :gONUJHz): or

sure has proved especially useful, if desired after admixture with surface-active substances, for

instance aluminium oxide, silica gel, active carbon, fuller-s earth or with an anhydrous salt, for instance copper sulfate. The mixture produced of lactones may be treated for isolating pure components in the usual manner, for instance by fractional crystallization or by chromatographic adsorption analysis.

'The products obtained by this process are 5- or Example 1 2.0 grams of A -pregnane-3-ole-20-one-21-dimethyl-acetal of melting point 113 C. and of the formula CH3 CH3 I I I are caused to react in absolute benzene with 5.0

grams of ethylbromoacetate and 1 gram of zinc spangles. When the first energetic reaction has OCH:

C O-Gg OCH:

ceased, the mixture is boiled for 1 hour in a reflux apparatus and then mixed with absolutealcohol. After filtering the zinc mud which has not undergone reaction, there are added 10 cc.

of concentrated hydrochloric acid and 100 cc. .Of water and the reaction mixture is shaken for 12 hours by a mechanical shaker. -The precipitated product is suction-filtered, washed with water and shaken with hydrogen in the presence of Raney nickel until 1 mol. of hydrogen has been absorbed. The crude product of the hydrogenation is boiled for 6 hours with 10 cc. of acetic an hydride and recrystallized from alcohol after evaporating the acetic acid anhydride in excess. As main product there is obtained the A .3-acetoxy-21-hydroxy-norcholadienic acid lactone of melting point 174 C. and of the formula Instead of the named dimethylacetal there may also be used the-corresponding diethylmercaptal of melting point 125-125 C. or also the free aldehyde.

- 516;25:26-3 t xy-27-hydroxy-26-methylcholestadiene-26-carboxylic acid lactone.

The compounds named in the preceding paragraph correspond to the following formulae:

I Norcholestene-3-ole-25-one-- CH; CH: EH8

is. l .I a. I v I 254:0 no- V 5 A -3-acetorm-24 -hydroxy-26-methyl-cholestadiene-ZG-carboxylic acid lactone- Ai -3-acetoxy-27-hydroxy-26-methyl-cholestadiene-26-carboxylic acid lactone- 210E: CH:

5 grams of A -3-acetoxy-24-keto-25-diazo-25- homocholene of melting point C. are dissolved in benzene and the solution is caused to react with 10 grams of ethylbromoacetate after addition of 5 grams of activated zinc spangles. The reaction product is taken up in absolute alcohol and filtered in order to remove the zinc which has not been used. Dilute hydrochloric acid is added to the alcohol solution and the whole is allowed to stand in the cold until the evolution of gas is finished. It is boiled for a short time and the alcohol is concentrated considerably. The reaction product is taken up in ether and water, thoroughly washed with hydrochloric acid and water and finally concentrated in ether. The crude product is treated in the heat for sev- .eral' hours with acetic anhydride, whereupon it is again evaporated to dryness. The crystallized residue is chromatographed, whereby the B- [A -3- hydroxy-norcholenyl (23) -A=' -buteno1ide of melting point 229230 C. is obtained and having the formula H; CH: CH: (I)H kn, /L/ JHa BC =CH I all: 0 HO \0 What I claim is: I 1. In a process for the manufacture of a com- 2,se1,oe7 3 pound of the saturated and unsaturatedv cyclopentanopolyhydrophenanthrene series, the step of reacting a compound of the formula 4. A process for the manufacture of a compound of the saturated and unsaturated cyclopentanopolyhydrophenanthrene series, which 1 g 77777 flrncomprises reacting a go npound of the formula BCO--C/ 5 /R1 x R-COC wherein Rrepresents a radical containing the cyclopentanopolyhydrophenanthrene ring structure, R represents a member of the group consisting of hydrogen, a hydrocarbon radical and a carbalkoxy group, and X represents a member of the group consisting of oxo, thio, isonitroso, acetal, mercaptal and diazo groups, with a member of the group consisting of aand p-halogenated fatty acid esters, amides and nitriles, in the presence of a metal condensing agent, whereby the residue of the said member of the group consisting of aand p-halogenated fatty acid esters, amides and nitriles which remains upon subtracting the aor p-halogen atom is directly attached to the O atom -of the of reacting a-coinpound of the formula wherein R- represents a radical containing the cyclopentanopolyhydrophenanthrene ring structure, R represents a member of the group consisting of hydrogen, a hydrocarbon radical and i a carbalkoxy group, and X represents a member of the group consisting of oxo, thio, isonitroso, acetal, mercaptal and diazo groups, with an ester of an a-halogen fatty acid in the presence of a metal condensing agent, whereby the residue of the said member of the group consisting of a.- and p-halogenated fatty acid esters, amides and nitriles which remains upon subtracting the aor p-halogen atom is directly attached to the C atom of the group.

,3. In a process for the manufacture of a compound of the saturated and unsaturated cyclopentanopolyhydrophenanthrene series, the step of reacting a compound of the formula wherein It represents a radical containing the cyclopentanopolyhydrophenanthrene ring structure, R represents a member of the group consisting' of hydrogen, a hydrocarbon radical and a carbalkoxy group, and X represents a member of the group consisting of oxo, thio, isonitroso, acetal, mercaptaland diazo groups, with ethyl bromacetate in -the presence of a metal condensing agent, whereby the residue of the said member of the group consisting of aand ,B-halogenated fatty acid esters, amides and nitriles which remains upon subtracting the aor fl-halogen atom is directly attached to the Catom of the group.

cyclopentanopolyhydrophenanthrene ring structure, R represents a member of the group consisting of hydrogen, a hydrocarbon radical and a carbalkoxy group, and X represents a member of the group consisting of oxo, thio, isonitroso, acetal, mercaptal and diazo groups, with a member of the group consisting of uand fi-halogenated fatty acid esters, amides and nitriles, in the presence of a metal condensing agent, whereby the residue of the said member of the group consisting of aand phalogenated fatty acid esters, amides and nitriles which remains upon subtracting the or or ,B-halogen atom is directly attached to the C atom of the group, and then subjecting the resultant condensatiqn product to the action of a lactonizing agent.

5. A process for the manufacture of a compound of the saturated and unsaturated cyclopentanopolyhydrophenanthrene series, which comprises reacting a compound of the formula troso, acetal, mercaptal and diazo groups, with a member of the group consisting of orand phalogenated fatty acid esters, amides and nitriles, in the presence of a metal condensing agent, whereby the residue of the said member of the group consisting of 'ozand p-halogenated fatty acid esters, amides and nitriles which remains upon subtracting the ozor p-halogen atom is directly attached to the C atom of the group, and then subjecting the resultant condensation product to the action of a hydrolyzlng agent and a lactonizing agent,

6. A process for the manufacture of a compound of the saturated and unsaturated cyclopentanopolyhydrophenanthrene series, which comprises reacting a compound of the formula R1 R-CO C/ x wherein R represents aradical containing the cyclopentanopolyhydrophenanthrene ring structure, R represents a member of the group consisting of hydrogen, a hydrocarbon radical and a carbalkoxy group, and X represents a member of the group consisting of oxo, thio, isonitroso, acetal, mercaptal and diazo groups, with a member of the group consisting of aand ,B-halogenated fatty acid esters, amides and nitriles, in the presence of a metal condensing agent, whereby the residue of the said member of the group consisting of 01- and ,B-halogenated fatty acid esters, amides and nitriles which'remains upon subtracting the mor p-halogen atom is direc 1y attached to the C atom of the group, and then subjecting the resultant condensation product to the action of a hydrolyzing agent, a lactonizing agent and a. re-esterifying agent.

'7. A process for the manufacture of a compound of the saturated and unsaturated cyclopentanopolyhydrophenanthrene series, which comprises reacting a compound of the formula R wherein R represents a radical containing the cyciopentanopoly ydrophenanthrene ring structure, R represents a member of the group consisting of hydrogen, a hydrocarbon radical anda carbalkoxy group, and X represents a member of the group consisting of 0x0, thio, isonitroso, acetal, mercaptal and diazo groups, with a member of the group consisting of aand ,6- halogenated fatty acid esters, amides and nitriles, in the presence of a metal condensing agent, whereby the residue of the said member of the group consisting of aand p-halogenated fatty acid esters, amides and nitriles which remains upon subtracting the aor fi-halogen atom is directly attached to the C atom of the group, and subjecting the resultant condensation product to the action of lactonizing means and then to a process for eliminating water.

8. A process according to claim 4, wherein the said condensation product is also subjected to the action of a reducing agent.

9. A process according to claim 5, wherein the said condensation product is also subjected to the action of a reducing agent.

10. A process according to claim 6, wherein the said condensation product is also subjected to the action of a reducing agent.

11.'A process according .claim '7, wherein the said condensation product is also subjected to the action of a reducing agent.

LEOPOLD RUZICKA. 

